Jim Whitmire graduated from Whitney High School as valedictorian in 1964 then earned his Bachelor of Science degree in economics and accounting from UH in 1968 and his Master of Business Administration in 1970. Whitmire was a member of the Houston Chapter of the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants, chairman of its committee on Co-operation with Educational Institutions, and a member of its Public Affairs Committee. Other notable memberships include the American Institute of CPAs and American Accounting Association. Sponsored by the Houston Chapter of the CPA's and Internal Revenue Service to educate taxpayers in preparation for tax returns, Whitmire was a volunteer instructor for the "Teaching Texas" program. Additionally, Whitmire was vice-chairman for the United Fund in the 1972 Campaign. Among other honors, Jim served as vice-president and member of the board of directors of the Houston Junior Chamber of Commerce and Director of the Americanism and Governmental Affairs Committee. He was named the Most Outstanding First-Year Jaycee of the Houston Junior Chamber of Commerce for 1971-1972, chairman of the Fifth Annual National Pollution Control Conference and Exposition in April of 1972, and state chairman of the "Texas Jaycees for Constitutional Revision." Whitmire actively participated in Citizens for Texas, the organization for updating the Texas Constitution and the Houston Citizens for Texas Constitutional Revision. Whitmire ran and was defeated for Houston City Council in 1973. This series contains his political campaign documents.